If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

• Han JJ, Massagli TL and Jaffe KM (2004). Fibrocartilaginous embolism--an uncommon cause of spinal cord infarction: a case report and review of the literature. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 85: 153-7. Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center and Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, USA. jhan@u.washington.edu. Fibrocartilaginous embolism is a rare cause of spinal cord infarction. It is postulated that an acute vertical disk herniation of the nucleus pulposus material can lead to spinal cord infarction by a retrograde embolization to the central artery. An increased intradiskal pressure resulting from axial loading of the vertebral column with a concomitant Valsalva maneuver is thought to be the initiating event for the embolus. We present a previously healthy 16-year-old boy with sudden onset of back pain and progressive paraparesis within 36 hours after lifting exercises in a squat position. His clinical presentation and neuroimaging studies were consistent with spinal cord infarction resulting from a central artery embolus at the T8 spinal cord level. Laboratory investigation showed no evidence of infectious, autoimmune, inflammatory, or neoplastic causes. Although no histologic confirmation was obtained, lack of evidence for other plausible diagnoses in the setting of his clinical presentation and in the magnetic resonance imaging findings made fibrocartilaginous embolism myelopathy the most likely diagnosis. We postulated that some cases of transverse myelitis might actually be fibrocartilaginous embolism, making it a more prevalent cause of an acute myelopathy than commonly recognized. Relevant literature and current theories regarding the pathogenesis of fibrocartilaginous embolism myelopathy are reviewed.

Anyone else out there had FCE?

I was diagnosed with having had a FCE 12months ago. At the time I was assessed as having a T7 incomplete SCI.

I am yet to meet anyone else who has experienced the same thing as me, although, the young man's experience in the article is similar to mine. Although my outcome, so far, has not been quite as good as his.

I was in Royal North Shore Hospital for 3 weeks and was diagnosed there. At RNS they said there had been 15 cases in the past 10 years and a farmer in NSW had suffered from the same thing 2 years ago.

When I went for my driving test in Canberra, they said they had had one man who had suffered a FCE a few years ago, also go for his driving test there.